Red Stripe
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Red Stripe
Origin / History
Origin unknown (Downing); probably Indiana (Budd & Hansen); the variety comes to us from Indiana (Downing). It was introduced at Fort Wayne by Mr. Rockhill, who is reported to have "made more money from the trees of this variety than from twice as many of any other early apple" (Warder). This handsome and productive early apple has been extensively propagated in parts of Indiana and was recommended for general cultivation in that State (Warder). Historically circulated in Indiana under the names "Early Red Margaret" (incorrectly applied) and "Rockhill's Summer Queen" (Warder); also encountered as "English Red Stripe" and "Carolina Red Stripe" (Downing).
Tree
Hardy in nursery and orchard, productive (Warder; Downing; Budd & Hansen). Shoots very downy (Warder; Budd & Hansen).
Fruit
Size: Medium to small (Warder); medium (Downing; Lowther); medium or below (Budd & Hansen); rather large (Thomas).
Form: Long, conical, furrowed or ribbed (Warder); oblong conical, almost ribbed (Downing); oblong, conical (Thomas); oblong conical, obscurely ribbed (Budd & Hansen); oblate (Lowther).
Stem / Stalk: Medium (Warder); short and slender (Downing); short to medium, slender (Budd & Hansen).
Cavity: Acute, regular, browned (Warder); acute, regular, russeted (Budd & Hansen).
Calyx / Eye: Eye very small, closed (Warder); calyx closed (Downing); calyx very small, closed (Budd & Hansen).
Basin: Very shallow, plaited (Warder); very shallow, corrugated (Budd & Hansen).
Skin / Surface: Surface polished, pale yellow, mixed and splashed crimson (Warder); whitish, considerably striped, splashed, and mottled with crimson (Downing); surface polished, whitish yellow, mostly covered with striped, splashed, and mottled crimson (Budd & Hansen); striped (Thomas); striped or splashed red (Lowther).
Flesh / Flavor: Whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; flavor acid (Warder); white, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid (Downing); white, fine-grained, juicy, tender, pleasant acid (Budd & Hansen); mild, sub-acid (Thomas). Quality good (Warder; Downing; Budd & Hansen); very good (Lowther; Thomas).
Core / Seeds: Long, oval, embracing the eye (Warder); large and open (Downing); large, open, oval, clasping (Budd & Hansen).
Season
July and August (Warder; Budd & Hansen); August (Downing); late summer (Thomas).
Uses
Table or kitchen (Warder); valuable fruit for market or cooking (Downing); both kitchen and market (Lowther).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Red Stripe. EARLY RED MARGARET (incorrectly) — ROCKHILL'S SUMMER QUEEN (Indiana).
This handsome and productive early apple has been extensively propagated in parts of Indiana, under the names above presented. It was introduced at Fort Wayne by Mr. Rockhill, who is reported to have "made more money from the trees of this variety than from twice as many of any other early apple." Recommended for general cultivation in that State.
Tree hardy in nursery and orchard, productive; Shoots very downy.
Fruit medium to small, long, conical, furrowed or ribbed; Surface polished, pale yellow, mixed and splashed crimson.
Basin very shallow, plaited; Eye very small, closed. Cavity acute, regular, browned; Stem medium. Core long, oval, embracing the eye; Flesh whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality good; Table or kitchen; Season, July and August.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Stripe.
English Red Stripe. Carolina Red Stripe. Rockhill's Summer Queen.
Origin unknown. Comes to us from Indiana. Tree hardy and productive. Valuable fruit for market or cooking.
Fruit medium, oblong conical, almost ribbed, whitish, considerably striped, splashed, and mottled with crimson. Stalk short and slender. Calyx closed. Flesh white, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. August. Core large and open.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Red Stripe: size medium; form oblate; color striped or splashed (red); quality very good; use both kitchen and market.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Red Stripe. Rather large, oblong, conical, striped; mild, sub-acid, very good. Late summer. Ind.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Red Stripe. — Origin, probably Indiana; tree productive, shoots very downy.
Fruit medium or below, oblong conical, obscurely ribbed; surface polished, whitish yellow, mostly covered with striped, splashed, and mottled crimson; cavity acute, regular, russeted; stem short to medium, slender; basin very shallow, corrugated; calyx very small, closed. Core large, open, oval, clasping; flesh white, fine-grained, juicy, tender, pleasant acid, good. July and August.